Automatic dial operator



R. DEMEULENAERE ET AL 2,523,256

Sept. 19, 1950 AUTOMATIC DIAL OPERATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1948 3mm )5. Demezdzzaere %M Demeulenae Te Sept. 19, 1950 R. DEMEULENAERE ET AL 2,523,256

AUTOMATIC DIAL OPERATOR Filed March 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm m,

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mupmeulezz/aez'e Elm: mags p 1950 R. DEMEULENAERE Er AL 2,523,256

AUTOMATIC DIAL OPERATOR s $heets-Sheet 3 Filed March 26, 1948 .Robert Demeu/enaere Marcel Demeu/enaere Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l.

AUTOMATIC DIAL OPERATOR Robert Demeulenaere and Marcel Demeulenaere,

' New York, N. Y.

Application March 26, 1948, Serial No. 11166 32 Claims. (01. 179-96) the initial and changing requirements of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the desired adjustments enabling the subsequent automatic dialing of selected numbers may be effected simply by the manual operation. of the conventional telephone dial in the usual manner to dial the items of the selected number.

A still further objectis to provide an operating device in which the dial at all times isexposed to full view and vfreely accessible for manipulation in the usual manner independently of and without transmitting motion to the operating mechanism; I I

In the accompanying drawings wherein an approved embodiment-of the invention is'illustrated; H

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the automatic dial operator. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged .plan view of the casing enclosing a part of the mechanism, the cover being removed.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. m

Figure 4 is a detail of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a detail of the motor drive.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 66 of Figure 3 with portions removed to illustrate the details of construction of the keys.

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines '|'l of Figure 2 with portions removed;

to more clearly illustrate the details of construction of the roller-mounted carriage.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the shiftable slide removed from the dial operator.

Figure 9 is an isometric view on an enlarged scale of the setting member by which the stop plates are moved to initial position before one of the keys is set to dial a particular number.

Referring to the drawings in detail the numeral It indicates a casing preferably'mounted engaging in the long arms of the lever l2.

the slide 23.

upon a base suitably positioned with respect to the base of a telephone, having a dialor other manually operable calling means or mechanism, to be actuated by the automatic dialing device. Two pairsof angular levers H and I2 are pivot ally mounted at 13 and [4, respectively, on the opposed sides of the casing l0 diagrammatically showing-the motor circuit. The short arms of the levers of one pair are connected with the corresponding arms of the otherpair by a link l5 and pins l1 and i8 carried by thelevers H and I 2 ,respectively.

A guide I9 is pivotally mounted on pins in the long arms of the angular levers II and a similar guide 2| is pivotally mounted on pins 22 A differentially movable slide 23' is .mounted for reciprocating movement in the guides. l9 and ,2!

and is in the form of an open fr'ame including three cross members 24 extending transversely of the casing. q

During reciprocating movement of the slide 23 itis moved upwardly from its lowermost position at intervals by a cam 25 rotably rnounted on .a shait ZS secured in one side wall of the casing lii and provided with external cam faces 21 of appropriate number. A lug 28 on one of .the

levers I; rests on the face of the cam 21 and the contour of the latter is such that during rotation of the cam the levers I2 and H are oscillated so as to progressively raise the guides l9 and}! 3i], as shown in Figure 3, and in so doing both pairs of levers H and I2 turn rapidly in a clockwise direction and permit the slide 23 to assume its lowermost position. As willbe understood, the link l5 and pins l1 and I8 serve to transmit motion of the levers l2 to the levers II and in this manner the slide 23 is maintained in horizontal position during all stages of its vertical stepwise movement. 7

A carriage 3| is mounted to slide longitudinally in the casing Ill between pairs of rollers 32 and'is provided with an angular plate 33 carrying an actuating bar 34 for imparting motion'to For this purpose the bar 34' is located at approximately the longitudinalcenter of the casing Ill and extends upwardly through a slot 35 in the top of the casing. As will be understood, the vertical extension of the bar 34 '3 is such that it remains in engagement with the slide 23 in all vertical positions of the latter.

Furthermore the spring 36 is connected at one end with the carriage 3| and at its other end with the casing and yieldably maintains the actuating bar 34 in engagement with the outermost wall of the slot 35.

A ratchet wheel 3'! is rigidly secured to the rotatable cam and at each stroke of the carriage 3| is engaged by a pawl 38 pivotally secured at 39 to the carriage and normally held in active position by a spring 40, thus at each stroke of the carriage 3| the ratchet wheel 31 and cam 25 are rotated through an angle sufficient to present the next succeeding cam surface 21' to the lug 28 whereby the levers H and |2 are actuated and the slide 23 is elevated. v

A plurality of control keys 4| are mounted for sliding movement through openings in the top of the casing l0 and the lower ends thereof are engaged by guide pins 42 fixed in the bottom of the casing'lll and movable in recesses 43. Each key is formed with a series of spaced horizontal slots 44 corresponding in number to the number of items in the telephone numbers to be dialed.

Stop plates 45 of elongated fonn are arranged in superposed relation in the slots 44. Each stop plate is formed with a plurality of vertical apertures 46 preferably ten in number to correspond convenience in withdrawing the pin from the key.

The lower end of each key 4| is enlarged and 7 provided with an inclined cam face 49 terminating at its upper end in a shoulder 50. The keys 4| are preferably arranged in rows extending transversely across the top of the casing I0 and the cam faces 49 of the keys of each row cooperate with one of the cross members 5| of a shiftable frame mounted in the lower part of the casing and which also includes longitudinal members 52. The keys 4| are normally held in raised position by springs 53 in which position the cross members 5| are situated below the cam surfaces 49. Thus, when an one of the keys is depressed in the act of initiating an automatic dialing operation, the frame constituted by the cross and longitudinal members 5| and 52 is shifted longitudinally of the casing by action of the cam 49. The opposite ends of the longitudinal members 52 are connected with links 54 pivotally mounted at 55 in the casing. When, during the depression of one of the keys, the shoulder descends below the related cross member 5|, the latter moveslaterall and engages over said shoulder thereby locking the key in depressed position.

One of the links 54 at the end of the casing adjacent the actuating bar 34is provided with a hook shaped locking member 56 carrying a pin 51 normally engageable with the plate 33 on the carriage 3| whereby the latter is held in position during periods of inoperation of the dialing device. When the frame 5|52 is moved longitudinally incident to depression of a key, the rocking movement imparted to the links 54 lifts the locking member and the pin 51 thereby releasing the carriage 3| for operation.

The actuatin bar 34 is rigidly connected with an actuating arm 59 which projects laterally from the casing ll) of Figure 1 and is provided terminally with a pin 60 engaging in a slot 6| in a rack member 62. The opposite end of the rack member 62 is in the form of a yoke 63 provided on one leg with teeth 64 engaging a pinion 65, the purpose of the yoke 53 being to maintain the rack member in operative position with respect to the pinion. The pinion 65 is located centrally of an attaching member 66 having a central portion adapted to overlie the hub-like part of the conventional telephone dial and also having opposed extensions 66 terminally formed to engage in two opposed openings in the telephone dial, the entire attaching member being situated in a plane below the stop member cooperating with the rotatable telephone dial and forming parts of conventional dial telephone equipment.

An adjustable member 61 is slidably secured in position on top of the actuating arm 59 by pins 58 engaging in slots 69 and for convenience in manipulating the adjustable member 61 a knob Hi is provided thereon. In the operative position of the adjustable member 61 the reduced end thereof opposite the rack member 62 is disposed in the path of and engageable by a pivoted arm 12 mounted for swinging movement on a pivot 13 attached to the casing It. A second arm 14 arranged in opposed relation to the arm 12 is also mounted on the pivot 13 and is oscillated by a flexible cable 15 operated by a crank pin 15a on a drive motor 16. A lug T! is attached to the pivoted end of the arm 14 and is normally held against a stop 13 On the arm i2 by a spring 19 confined between the lug Ti and an extension on the arm 12. Thus as the flexible member 15 is moved in one direction the arm 14 is rocked and the motion thereof is transmitted to the arm 12 through the spring 19 which thus forms a yieldable coupling between the arms 12 and 14.

A'pair of contacts 8|, Figures 3 and 5, is interposed in the circuit of the motor 15 and when the links 54 are rocked incident to the depression of one of the keys 4|, a member 82 on the locking member 55 bridges the-contacts8| and conditions the motor for operation. A second pair of contacts 83 is also interposed in the motor circuit and is controlled b the'adjustable member 61 in such manner that when the latter is shifted to withdraw the end H from the path of the pivoted arm 12 the motor circuit is opened across the contacts 83.

Also in this inoperative position of the adjustable member 61 in which the motor drive for the dial operator is disabled the slotted end 59 embraces the pin 65 and thereby prevents displacement of the latter in the slot 6| and forms a coupling between the arms 59 and the rack member 62. f

in this position by the cross member 5| engagingthe shoulder 50, the lowermost stop plate of the related group is disposed directly in the path of the slide. The motion imparted to the frame 5|52 by the cam face 49 upon the depression of the key disengages the pin 51 from the plate 33 and at the same time causes the member 82 to bridge the contacts 8! thereby closing the circuit of the motor 16 and initiating operation of the device. The motion of the arms '72 and i4 is transmitted through the adjustable member 6-! to the arm 59 thereby shifting the actuating bar 34v and moving the slide 23 longitudinally until it is arrested by engagement with the lowermost stop. plate 45. In case the setting of the plate 45 does not permit the'slide :23 to perform the full stroke imparted thereto by the rocking movement of the arms 12 and M this is accommodated owing to the yieldable connection between the arms 12 and 14 provided by the spring 19 which, under such conditions is compressed. The motion of the arm '59 limited independence upon the adjustment of the plate 45 is transmitted to the telephone dial through the rack member '62, teeth '64 and pinion '65. :member ('5 is moved in the opposite direction by the crank :pin (5a, the carriage 3| is restored to its :initial position by the spring 36 and the slide 23 is restored therewith. During'the .latter motio'nof the carriage 31, the pawl '38 cooperating with the ratchet 'wheel 3'! turns the cam through an angle which engages the next succeeding cam face 21 'wit'h'the 'lug28 and thereby lifts the slide 23 into "position to engage the stop platenext to the bottom. On the next succeedin'g-stroke of the slide 23 effected'by actuation of the arms 12 and M the movement thereof is limited by the second stop plate 45' and the second item of the'selected telephone number is thereby-dialed. These operations are continued until all the items of the telephone number are dialed and the cam wheel 25 is revolved to a position where the lug 28 is engaged by the cam surface 29. At this point the slide 23 engages a pin 86 on the locking member 56 thereby lifting the latter slightly and turning the links '54 to such extent that the frame 5l-52 is shiftedlongitudinally to disengage the cross member 5'! from the shoulder 51! and thereby release the depressed key 4! which is raised by the key spring 53. During the final angular movement of the cam 25 the lug 28 disengages the cam surface 29 and falls with the lever 12 upon the cam surface 39. Both levers H and i2 participate in this movement and the slide 23 thus assumes its original position. The links 54 as well as the :frame 5l'52 also assume their original position and in so doing the member 82 is disengaged-from the contacts 8! and the circuit of the motor 7:5 is thereby interrupted.

To enable the user at will to change the telephone number automatically dialed in response to the depression of any of the keysM, the adjustable member 61 is moved longitudinally by means of the knob Hi to displace the terminal ll from the path of the arm 1-2, disabling the motor circuit by opening the contacts 83 and engaging the pin 60 in the slot 69. The selected key is depressed and locked by engagement ofthe member 5! with the shoulder and the retaining pin 41 of the depressed key is withdrawn thereby releasing all of the stop plates 45. A setting member 88 is then introduced in a slot 89 in the top of the casing in adjacent each key and manipulated so as to move all of the stop plates toward the-end of the casing in which the actuating arm 34 is located. The telephone dial is then manipulated in the usual way to dial the desired number and in so doing the slide 23 is first moved in degree proportional to the first item of the telephone number, the motion of the dial being transmitted to the slide through the pinion 65, rack member 62, pin Bil, arm 59, and actuating arm 34. When the telephone dial is returned to initial position preparatory to dialing the sec- When the flexible drive 5 6 end item of the selecte'd telephone' numbery th'e slide 23 is also restored to initial p'osition and the movement of the'carria'ge 31 effects an -upward stepwise movement of the slide :through'itne pawl 38, ratchet wheel-31, cam 25, lug -28 and levers H and 12. Thus, when the telephone dial is moved to an extent depending rupon the second item of the selected telephone numb'er,-- the slide is positioned "to engage and "set the second stop plate 4'5. These operations are repeateduntil all of the stop plates '45 have been adjusted to positions corresponding with the i-ter'ns of the selected telephone number whereupon they are locked by introducing the pin 41 into position in the bore of the key. Finally, the adjustable member 161 is restored .to its initial position -in which the end TI is disposed in the 'path of the arm 12 for operation when the motor 1 6 is again energized.

Due to the provision f the pin and slot connection *60 and 61 between the rack member 62 and the actuating arm 59 complete f reedoin of movement of the telephone dial independently of the automatic actuating means is afior ded'afid consequently the dial may be freely manipulated in the usual manner when preferre'd'or' for --d-ia'ling numbers other than those corresponding with the keys ll. I

As will be understood, the stop -plates' '4 5 are disposed in position to be engaged by the 'sl-id'e 23 only-when keys are depressed. The stop members which remain in raised position with the related keys are so disposed as to afford freedom of movement "of the slide. T

From the above detailed description it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved device for automatically dialing a telephone ih'aving manually .operable calling :means wherein the numbers automatically obtainable maybe :set and changed at will without special skill :'or resort to lp'r'ecut cams, prepunched ear-as or other extraneous devices. Itsho-uld be understood that the described and disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the inventionand that all lnodi fications are intended to "be-included which "do not depart either from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention, we claim':

1. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, 'abtuating' means for imparting a succession of dialing movements to said member, a plurality of relatively settable 'stop' m'embers, means whereby said stop members are individually settable in relative positions corresponding with an item of a telephone number to be dialed for selectively limiting the successive mo'veme'ntsof said operating member, -and c'omm'on means for locking the several stop members in set position.

2. In an automatic dial operator, adialoperating Lmem'be'r, actuating means for imparting a succession of dialing movements to-said member,

and a plurality of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said-stop members are in di vidually settab'le by said actuating means'in relative positions corresponding with an'item of the telephone number to be dialed,said stop members being operable, when set, to selectively limit the successive movements of said operat ing member. i

'3. In 'an'automatic dial operatorya dial operating member, actuating means for imparting a succession of dialing movements to said member, 'a plurality of relatively settable stop members, :means whereby said stop members are individually settable by said actuating means in relative positions corresponding with an item of the telephone number to be dialed, said stop members being operable, when set, to selectively limit the successive movements of said operating member, and means for securing the stop members in set position.

4. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, actuating means for imparting a succession of dialing movements to said member, and a plurality of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually settable by said actuating means in relative positions corresponding with an item of -the telephone number to be dialed, said stop members being operable, when set, to selectively limit the successive movements of said operating member, the setting of said stop members by the actuating means being effected by normal -manual operation of the related telephone dial.

5. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a mechanism for performing a succession of movements each proportional in ,magnitude to the items of a telephone number to bedialed, .and a one-way drive effective to transmit the movements of said mechanism to said member but ineffective to transmit motion of the operating member to said mechanism thereby affording freedom of movement of the related dial independently of said mechanism.

6. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a movable member mounted to perform a succession of movements, a plurality of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually setable member whereby the stop members may be set-in selected positions through operation of the related telephone dial. 7

7. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a movable member mounted to perform a succession of movements, a plurality of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually settable by said movable member in relative positions corresponding with an item of the telephone number to be dialed, said stop members being operable, when set, to selectively limit the successive movements of said movable member, means effective to transmit movement of the movable member tosaid dial operating member but normally ineffective to transmit movement of said dial operating member to said movable member, means for rendering said means effective totransmit motion from the dial operating member to the movable member whereby the stop members may be set in selected. positions through operation of the related telephone dial, and means for retaining the stop members in set position.

Y 8. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a movable member for imparting a succession of dialing movements to said operating member, a plurality of groups of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually settable in relative positions corresponding with an item of a telephone number to be dialed, manually operable means to establish an operative relationship between a selected group of said stop members and said movable member whereby the stop members of said group are rendered effective to selectively limit the successive movements of said movable member, and means common to the stop member of each group to lock said members in set position.

9. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a movable member for imparting a succession of dialing movements to said operating member, a plurality of groups of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually settable in relative positions corresponding with an item of a telephone number to be dialed, manually operable means to establish an operative relationship between a selected group of stop members and said movable member whereby the stop members of said group are rendered efiective to selectively limit the successive movements of said movable member, a motor for driving said movable member conditioned for operation by said manually operable means, and means for rendering said motor inoperative whereby the movable member may be utilized to selectively set the stop members of the group having operative relationship thereto.

10. An automatic dial operator, as claimed in claim 8 wherein said manually operable means includes keys and releasable means carried by each key for retaining the related group of stop members in selected set positions.

11. An automatic dial operator as claimed in claim 9 wherein said manually operable means includes keys and means carried by each key for retaining the related stop members in the positions in which they are selectively set by said movable member.

12. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, actuating means for imparting a succession of dialing movements to said member, a movable key member, and a normally inoperative group of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually settable in relative positions corresponding with the items of a telephone number to be dialed and movable by the key member into operative position for selectivel limiting the successive movements of said actuating means and said operating member.

13. An automatic dial operator, as claimed in claim 12 wherein means is provided to retain the 'stop members in set position.

14. An automatic dial operator, as claimed in claim 12 wherein the stop members are arranged in spaced superposed relation. J

15. An automatic dial operator as claimed in claim 12 wherein a retaining pin carried by the key member is passed through apertures in said stop members. e

16. An automatic dial operator as claimed in claim 12 wherein stop members are provided with apertures arranged in dependence upon the positions in which said stop members are to be set, and a retaining member carried by said key member and passing through aligned apertures in said stop members.

17. An automatic dial operator as claimed in claim 12 wherein said stop members are in the form of superposed flat plates successively en- V 9 gageable bysaid actuating means during successive movements thereof.

18; In combination with a telephone having a dial, an automatic dial operator comprising a member attachable to and movable with a conventional telephone dial'by engagement in a dial opening, a pinion carried by saidmember, a rack engaging said pinion, and meansfor imparting a succession of dialing movements to said member through said rack and pinion.

19. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, an actuating mechanism, and a pin and slot connection between said operating member and said mechanism whereby motion may be transmitted from said mechanism to said member and the dial operated independently of said mechanism.

20. In an automatic dial operator, a plurality of groups of stop members individually settable in relative positions corresponding with the items of a telephone number to be dialed, manually operable means for selectively moving one of the groups of stop members into operative position, a reciprocable member, means for progressively moving said reciprocable member into engagement with the stop members of the operative group, and means for imparting movement of the reciprocable member to a telephone dial.

21. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, actuating means for imparting a operating member engageable with said dial, a

mechanism for performing a succession of movements, each proportional in magnitude to the items of a telephone number to be dialed, and means effective to transmit the movements of said mechanism to said operating member, said means being normally ineffective to transmit motion of the operating member to said mechanism thereby affording freedom of movement of the related dial independently of said mechanism without disengagement of said dial operatin member.

23. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a movable member for imparting a succession of dialing movements to said operating member, a plurality of groups of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually settable in relative positions corresponding with the items of a telephone number to be dialed, manually operable means to establish an operative relationship between a selected group of said stop members and said movable member whereby the stop members of said group are rendered effective to selectively limit the successive movements of said movable member, means for locking said group in operative relationship, and means for automatically releasing said group to inoperative position on completion of the dialing movements of said operating member.

24. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a movable member for imparting a succession of dialing movements to said operating member, a plurality of groups of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually settable in relative positions corresponding with the items of a telegame 10 phone number to bedialed, manually operable means to establish an operative relationship between a selected group of said stop members and said movable member whereby the stop members of said group are rendered effective to selectively limit the successive movements of said movable member, anda motor for driving said movable member conditioned for operation by said manually operable means.

25. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, movable means for'imparting 'a succession of dialing movements to said member, a stop mechanism, means whereby said mechanism is settable inaccordance with the items of a telephone number to be dialed, means for es.- tablishin'g an operative relationship between said stop mechanism and said movable means whereby said stop mechanism is rendered effective to selectively limit the successive movements of said movable means, means for locking said stop mechanism in operative relationship, and means for automatically releasing said mechanism to inoperative position on completion of the dialing movements of said operating member.

26. In an automatic dial operator, a group of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individually settable in relative positions corresponding with the items of the telephone number to be dialed, means for selectively moving said group into operative position, a reciprocable member, a carriage connected to said reciprocable member, a motor for progressively moving said reciprocable member into engagement with the stop members of said group through said carriage, and means for transmitting movement of the reciprocable member to a telephone dial.

2'7. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a group of spaced stop members individually settable in relative positions corresponding with the items of the telephone number to be dialed, reciprocable means, a cam for successively moving said reciprocable means into position to be engaged and limited in its reciprocable movement by said stop members, and means for transmitting movement of said reciprocable means to said dial operating member.

28. In an automatic dial operator, a dial operating member, a reciprocable member, a carriage connected to said reciprocable member, means for transmitting reciprocable movement to said reciprocable member through said carriage, a group of relatively settable stop members, means whereby said stop members are individuallysettable in relative positions corresponding with the items of'the telephone number to be dialed and operable, when set, to successively limit the extent of movement of said reciprocable member, and means associated with said reciprocable member for engaging said dial operating member and transmitting movement ofsaid reciprocable member thereto.

29. In combination with a telephone operated through a dial shaft, a dial connected to said shaft, a group of stop members individually settabl in relative positions corresponding with the items of a telephone number to be dialed, manually operable means for moving said group of stop members into operative position, an actuating member, means for progressively moving said actuating member into engagement with the stop members of said operative group, and means for imparting movement of the actuating member to said dial.

30. In combination with a telephone operated 11 through a dial shaft, a dial connected to said shaft, actuating means for imparting a succession of dialing movements to'said dial, a stop mechanism and means whereby said mechanism is settable-by said actuating means in accordance With the items of the telephone number to be dialed and operable, when set, to selectively limit the successive movements of said dial. v

31. In an automatic operator for a telephone having-a calling device, a, group of stop members individually settable in relative positions corresponding with the items of a telephone number to be called, manually operable means for movingsaid group of stop members into operative position, an actuating member, means for progressively moving said actuating member into engagement with the stop members of said operative group, and means for imparting movement of the actuating member to said calling device.

32. In an automatic operator for a telephone having a calling device, an operating member,

actuating means for imparting a succession of calling movements to said member, 'a stop, mechanism and means whereby said mechanism is settable by said actuating means in accordance with the items of the telephone number to be called. and operable, when set, to selectively limit the successive movements of said operating member.

ROBERT DEMEULENAERE. .MARCEL DEMEULENAERE.

' file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Name Date Morin Sept. 19, 19 3 3 Number 

